Abseentism :effects in school on academic performance

Attending school regularly is a vital factor in school success for both students
and teachers. Excessive school absenteeism is often linked to poor school
academic achievement, so school attendance by both teachers and students
plays an integral role in the success and educational advancement levels of any
academic institution and all students enrolled.

Limited Educational Instruction

It is crucial to the success of any school to employ dedicated teachers who are physically
present to administer quality education to each student. Excessive absenteeism by the
teaching staff can drastically hinder the learning environment and academic achievement of
students when instructors are not routinely present to teach them. When teachers are
absent, schools must rely on substitute teachers to provide instruction for the students.
However, many substitute teachers may not be qualified to provide quality educational
instruction. Substitute teachers are not always required to possess a teaching certification,
and in some school districts they are able to teach with only a high school GED. The loss of
quality instructional time for students can result in unlearned academic skills and objectives,
and subsequent reduction in students' standardized test scores.

Poor Academic Progress

Successful schools cannot survive without physically present students. According to the
"Excessive Absences Intervention" research study by author Linda L. Williams, excessive
absenteeism by students may result in unlearned course material from fewer hours of
instruction, and a disruption of class instruction for teachers who have to administer
remediation for the absent student when he returns to school. Excessive absenteeism by
students may additionally result in poor academic achievement because students are not
receiving instruction on a consecutive basis. This problem also causes low standardized
test scores because absent students are not present to learn key concepts and skills that
are assessed on standardized exams.

Future Problems
Excessive student absenteeism can lead to an increasing disinterest in school and
academics in general. According to author Jason A. Schoenebergers "Longitudinal
Attendance Patterns" study, excessive absenteeism increases the chances of a student
eventually dropping out of school, which can lead to long term consequences for these
students, such as lower average incomes, higher incidences of unemployment, and a
higher likelihood of incarceration. Schoeneberger asserts that students who drop out of
school face a higher risk of poverty because of their inability to secure quality paying
employment due to their lack of education and resources. Dropouts who lack education and
resources are more likely to commit criminal activity leading to incarceration.

Decreased School Budget

Excessive absenteeism also places an extreme strain on the school's budget, and allocated
finances in each school district. Average daily attendance, or ADA, is the average
attendance rate of students in a school year. States utilize a school district's ADA to
determine the allocated funding it will receive. Schools may encounter a decrease in
funding due to a loss of full-time students. This limited budget due to excessive absences
causes a lack of educational resources and materials for the all the students in the school.
According to "USA Today," about one in three teachers misses more than 10 days of school
each year in the public school system. Providing substitutes for all of these absent teachers
costs schools, cumulatively, at least $4 billion a year. "USA Today" further reported that in
some states nearly 50 percent of the teachers miss more than 10 days of school in a typical
180-day school year.